Raiders say they won't challenge Saints' Bush

David White, Chronicle Staff Writer

Published 4:00 am, Friday, October 10, 2008

Photo: Getty Images

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NEW ORLEANS - OCTOBER 06: Reggie Bush #25 of the New Orleans Saints gets past Erin Henderson #50 of the Minnesota Vikings on October 6, 2008 at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. Bush tied an NFL record by returning two punts for touchdowns in a game. The Vikings defeated the Saints 30-27. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) less

NEW ORLEANS - OCTOBER 06: Reggie Bush #25 of the New Orleans Saints gets past Erin Henderson #50 of the Minnesota Vikings on October 6, 2008 at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. Bush tied an NFL record ... more

Photo: Getty Images

Raiders say they won't challenge Saints' Bush

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No gauntlet was thrown down. No chest was puffed out. There wasn't so much as a single double-dog dare issued.

No one knows what happened to the real Schneider, but he better not be harmed.

This is the coach who announced to the world his unit would punt the ball to Bears star Devin Hester. The Raiders did, and they stopped the unstoppable Pro Bowler six times for 14 yards on punts.

This week, the Raiders face Saints star Reggie Bush, who returned two punts for touchdowns Monday on national television. Suddenly, Schneider got one-part shy and two-parts coy about the plan going in.

"Let's put it this way," Schneider said. "We're going to try to not give him the ball and we're preparing that, if he gets the ball, we have to be ready to tackle him.

"Hopefully, he has no punt returns."

The surest way to keep Bush from returning punts is to never punt, but that's not realistic for this offense. The Raiders are 31st in third-down efficiency and 29th in first downs per game - and don't think they're getting it all done on second down either.

So, chances are the Raiders will have to punt. Punting is often their best offensive weapon, in terms of field position. Shane Lechler is one of the best punters in the game, and one of the best statistically all-time.

His distance doesn't help against Bush, though. The more space between Bush at the point of catch and the nearest defender, the more wiggle room he has to make them miss.

"Some of Reggie's best returns are when they're 4 yards and he makes eight guys miss," said Schneider, who, for all his talking, still isn't talking. "You can't tackle him one-on-one."

One option is to kick it into Row 16. Vikings coach Brad Childress said they tried Monday. Those two touchdown returns? Childress said he ordered both punts to go foul.

Saints coach Sean Payton said the same thing happened to him last year, when Hester returned an "out of bounds" punt for a touchdown against them.

"It must be harder to kick it out of bounds than you and I might think," Payton said. "To do that as a punter, all of a sudden you worry about that thing sliding off your foot and ... you shank it 18 yards."

If Schneider plans to tell Lechler to aim for the benches, he may want to yell it from the next county. Lechler disdains white-flag punts, and directional kicks aren't much higher on his list.

Besides, what kind of message would that send a special-teams unit that thrives when challenged by all-star returners?

"If you as a coach don't have confidence in your players and 'We're going to kick it away,' it's going to affect your players' mentality," said Isaiah Ekejiuba, a core member of the special teams. "It's a big statement to make if you're going to kick to somebody like that."

He's right. That is a big statement to make. It's just not one Schneider wants to go public with this year. Besides, even Ekejiuba admits it may be better to let their open-field takedowns do any talking this time.

"The whole world has seen what he can do," Ekejiuba said. "You don't want to be the next team that's on Reggie Bush's highlight."

Briefly: Defensive end Derrick Burgess missed a second straight practice Thursday with a strained triceps. He's doubtful at best, if he can't practice today before the team leaves to New Orleans. ... Strong safety Gibril Wilson also missed practice with flulike symptoms but should play Sunday. ... Running back Darren McFadden remains limited by turf toe but will play.